How to Select Industrial Products

I'm guessing just about everyone in our CR4 community has seen Star Wars. (We're talking the good ones here too. Not episodes 1-3, Capisce?) So, the most important moment of that film series is introduction of 'The Force" to the audience. It is the energy behind both the Jedi and Sith friary, and it is consistent in the binding of life forms by an unseen 'oversoul.'

...via Cinemagogue

Yoda trains Luke on Dgobah: "Do or do not. There is no try."

While it can be fun to pretend Star Wars and The Force are real in this galaxy, or perhaps fun to pretend you're swinging a light saber wildly in your garage, we need now to establish that this force is, well…bogus. And no amount of filming yourself pretending to be a Jedi will change that.

However, there is a force on Earth that can rival The Force. Its power is incorruptible and it provides a reliable and safe return energy for its user. I'm talking about, of course, the constant force spring!

OooooOOooo! aaaaaAAAAHHHH!

Just like The Force, constant force springs circulate their power with even minute amounts of its use, being able to exert energy beyond their small stature. As Yoda says, "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm? And well you should not. For my ally is The Force, and a powerful ally it is."

Unlike other extension springs, the degree of deflection matters not for the degree of resistance exerted by constant force springs. The spring's full spring rate is achieved after the spring is extended to 1.25 times its diameter, so load capacity is achieved quite easily.

Just like two Jedi are better than one, two constant force springs provide a distinct advantage over singular constant force springs. A variety of mounting options using two or more constant force springs are available, including tandem mounting, laminar mounting, and back-to-back mounting.

Each of these concentrates the energy of the constant force, just like how two Jedis are better able to tap into the force when working together.

Constant force springs have a 'dark side' as well. Such mounting options like cavity mountings and block-and-tackle will cause significant deformation and possibly death! (…of the spring, or course.)

Further implications of the constant force spring's dark side include its implicational hazards. If the load on the spring is suddenly removed, the spring may retract uncontrollably and severely damage nearby equipment. The edges of a constant force spring are as dangerous as a lightsaber, so care should be exercised.

How one applies the constant force spring matters considerably. It can be used for benefit, like in movie screens or in shelving units. It can also be used for destruction, like in military applications, or in the internal chest cavities of inept Storm Troopers.

"I am wondering, why are you here?"

Especially when everything about anything related to constant force springs can be found in GlobalSpec's Constant Force Spring Selection Guide. In this instance, GlobalSpec is the Yoda to your Skywalker. And that makes me your Obi-Wan. However, I defer to the prequel trilogy, because I'd rather be portrayed by Ewan McGregor than Alec Guinness.

Now if I can just get that dang Mark Hamill out of Gotham City…